Burghley Horse Trials Q&A with Tom McEwen

In typical fashion, after a long summer of warm and dry weather, Burghley House and Gardens was blessed with prolonged downpours throughout this year’s Burghley Horse Trials. The wet weather, however, didn’t damper the spirits, especially for those many – and there were many – who were wearing Le Chameau. This year saw the Le Chameau team spend the day with British Olympic Equestrian and Le Chameau ambassador, Tom McEwen, to join him on a course walk and get an update on his year so far. 

Tom, how's your summer been this year, what have you been up to?  

This summer has been very good. It's been very lovely and warm. The ponies have all been brilliant and it is great fun having a first summer with my son, Dougie. The majority of what I’ve been doing really this summer, apart from two days in Cornwall, is riding, riding and more riding with some competing involved.  

Where's your favourite place you've ridden this year?  

My favourite place I’ve ridden this year is probably Burgham because it's actually where we didn't take too many horses and the ponies went really well with Dublin winning the four-star and Danny winning the three.   

Why do you like going to Burghley?   

It's always exciting to go to Burghley, even when I’m not riding. It's an amazing show. They do so much for the riders, the owners, and most importantly, the horses and spectators. It's just a lovely, lovely environment to be in. And this year being with Defender a lot of the time I’ve missed quite a lot of the action, but I’m actually seeing it from a different perspective which is actually very cool as well.   

Which region in the UK do you love to visit most?   

The region I most love to visit, well, I’d probably have to say Cornwall. We actually went for a week this year, but I sadly had to go to a show during the week that we were down in Cornwall. But it’s great, such a beautiful spot of the country.   

What can we look forward with you and eventing this autumn and winter?   

We are really starting to push up the season with Cornbury Horse Trials, which is always such a fantastic event, one of the pinnacles of our sport with The Young Rider and Young Horse, a truly amazing show. Blenheim Horse Trials obviously even more exciting, my first home European Championships. Then, we're just waiting for selections, but we're looking at about a month away abroad, so that would be pretty exciting with a whole load of three-days to finish off and then hopefully finishing off with a good show at Pau.  

Which design of Le Chameau are you wearing currently?  

I’m very lucky to have all the styles. But at the moment, I've actually swapped over to the Vierzon boots which are great as they are thin with a nice check lining. I’m loving those in green this summer for walking the cross-country courses and through the waters. I’m also enjoying, with all this flash flooding that's coming down recently, the leather-lined Chasseur style of boots. Unbelievably comfortable. I've got the boots in black and looks very cool and different. If you, like Tom, wish for complete comfort and reliability when it comes to your Le Chameau boots as you work in the yard or venture out into the fields, try our Vierzon boots for size.